Plate lifter



F. C. WERNET jui 1 192% PLATE LIFTER Filed April 5 Patented July l, 1924.

FREDERICK G. WERNET, OF ALBRIGHTSVIL'LE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PLATE LIFTER.

Application filed April 3, 192? Serial No. 629,609.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that FREDERICK C. WERNET, acitizen of the United States, residin at Albri htsville, in the county of Car on and tate of Pennsylvania, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate Lifters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and use ful improvement in plate lifters and more particularly toa device of this class embodying cooperating spring arms and ineluding means whereby the arms can be adjusted laterally with respect to each other.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a plate lifter of the above mentioned character, which is especially adapted for grasping and holding various articles, particularly shallow dishes such as plates, bake pans or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plate lifter of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive and strong and durable and further well adapted for the purpose for which it is designated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate like part-s throughout the same Figure 1 is a perspective view of my plate lifter showing the same applied in position upon a plate for lifting the same.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 83 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the fingers showing the same in side elevation.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 1 and 2 designate a pair of complementary arms which have their rear portions hingedly connected together as shown at 3 in the drawings. The free ends of the complementary arms 1 and 2 are provided with curved portions at and 5 and these curved portions converge at their outer ends as more clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The arms 1 and 2 are furthermore con Adapted to be seated and disposed between the longitudinally lateral extending H flanges 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 respectively is a spring 10 which is looped intermediate its ends as more'clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and the ends of .the spring lO lare secured to the arms 1 and 2 by any suitable fastening means such as shown at 11 in the drawings. The purpose of this spring 10 is to normally hold the aforesaid arms and the curved portions carried thereby apart. The spring 10 is furthermore associated with the arms 1 and 2 of the plate lifter in such a manner as to have its looped portion extending. at the rear of the said arms to permit the operation and spreading of the arms. I

Depending from the curved portions 4: and 5 of the arms 1 and 2 andsecured on the inner faces thereof are the fingers 12. These fingers 12 are secured to the inner faces of. the curved portions 1 and 5 of the arms 1 and 2 respectively by any suitable fastening means such as shown at 13 in the drawings. It is to be understood that any number of these fingers may be attached to the curved portions in order to accomplish the necessary results for which this plate lifter is designed and I do not wish to confine myself to the number of such fingers as used. In the present instance I have shown two such fingers and it is deemed that the same will be sufficient in order to perform the proper functions of the plate lifter. The fingers 12 are furthermore provided with a channel 14 adjacent its free end as more clearly shown in Fig. 4; of the drawings for the purpose of providing suitable means for engaging and receiving the rim of any plate or other suitable object 15 which is desired to be lifted. This groove 14 may be provided by bending or otherwise looping the free end of the finger which will thereby provide a seat for the rim of the plate 15 as more clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

When it is desired to use this plate lifter the adjusting slide 16 which is adapted to be engaged about the arms 1 and 2 is moved towards the rear end of the arm and the spring 10 will thereby force the arms 1 and 2 and the curved portions 4 and 5 carried thereby to be spread apart. The plate lifter is then placed around the plate or object to be lifted in such a manner that the fingers 12 have their grooved portions 14 engaging the rim of the plate in such a manner as to assure the proper seating of the rim of the plate in all of the grooves and fingers and when the same are in proper position the adj ustin r slide 16 is then moved along the arms 1 and '2 to firmly clamp the curved portions 4 and of the arms 1 and 2 around the plate and thereby firmly support the plate in the fingers 12. The arms 1 and 2 then act as handles and the plate lifter can be readily moved from place to place with the plate or object carried therein. 'When it is necessary to release the plate or other object supported by the plate holder the adjustable slide 16 is moved backwardly and the arms 1 and 2 are then swung apart.

The plate lifter may be constructed of any suitable material such as sheet metal or the like and I do not wish to confine myself to the exact kind of material used.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description of the present invention that I have provided a plate lifter which is simple in construction and easily operated for carrying out the various functions for which it is designated. Furthermore the construction-of the plate lifter enables the same to be obtained at a minimum cost and furthermore adapted to be used for lifting various objects and can be readily and easily placed in position for use.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved apparatus, it will be seen that I have provided a simple, in

expensive and efficient means for carrying out theyobjects of the invention and While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A plate lifter comprising a pair of connected complementary arms held normally apart under spring tension, said arms having their free ends curved inwardly, fingers carried by the said curved portions, each of said fingers depending from the said curved portions and bent intermediate its ends to provide a groove, and a clip slidably movable on the said arms.

2. A plate lifter comprising a pair 0 hingedly -connected complementary arms, said arms having their opposite longitudinal side edges bent to provide lateral flanges, a spring disposed between the said flanges and connected at its ends to the said arms for normally holding the said arms apart, said arms having their free ends curved inwardly, fingers depending from the said curved portions, and means slidably movable on the said arms for drawing and holding the arms together.

3. A plate lifter comprising a pair of hingedly connected complementary arms, said arms having their opposite longitudinal side edges bent to provide laterally extending flanges, a spring element looped intermediate its ends and adapted to be disposed between the said flanges and secured at its respective ends to the said arms, said arms having their free ends provided with flat curved portions the ends of which converge, fingers depending from the curved portions, said fingers provided with grooves adjacent the lower ends thereof, and a clip slidably movable on the said arms.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

FREDERICK C. WERNET. 

